It would be much more accurate if Tannenbaum had said, Kerry Rhodes won't be cut before the 2010 season. The subtext, of course, being that any other team who would like to have him had better call up with a trade offer. The notion that the Jets wouldn't listen to trade offers, or that they wouldn't accept a trade, is patently absurd, as all of us who follow the team know. In particular, I would think that if the Giants miss out on Antrel Rolle, they could come calling.
I think it's safe to say if he is still here March 12th he'll be here next season... I'd prefer an upgrade but Kerry played much better after being benched. There are certainly teams with worse players in the position.
Tannenbaum has no reason to make that statement if it isn't his intention. He would look like a fool otherwise. Now if Rhodes comes out again and says he wants out of NY then and only then would all bets be off. They probably tried to trade him and couldn't. They certainly aren't going to draft a starter any better and we all know they can't sign any FAs.
I think we should completely give up on the Rolle saga. After the giants last season they are absolutely desperate to get him, and we really dont need to drastically overpay. Plus there hasnt been almost any mention of the jets seriously pursuing him. Oj Atogwe is our best bet currently, and theres been no word of the jets pursuing him either. Maybe something comes up when Rolle officially signs elsewhere from Arizona, but until then nothing looks like its changing with Rhodes.
I think it's best to keep Rhodes because it's looking like Rolle's pricetag will be too high. Outside of Rolle, there aren't any suitable safeties available and fuck downgrading.
He has every reason to make that statement, he was asked the question. He certainly wasn't going to say, "we'd like to get him the F out of here but nobody's offered squat for him yet." Cutting him to avoid the roster bonus would be a foolish move, even if they're hoping to trade him, for the same reason the Eagles paid Vick's roster bonus last week. Put another way, it's their intention to have him back next year, right up until the moment that somebody offers them a trade they like. If a trade is ever going to happen, it'll most likely happen within a day or two of Antrel Rolle getting signed. It's pretty safe to guess that the Giants would make an offer if they don't land Rolle, but they probably will, which leaves the Cardinals as the most likely suitor. The Bears could be a possibility as well; they were interested in Rolle but got outbid, so a talented safety who's already signed to a more palatable deal might be worth a pick for them. Either way, the Jets would move him out of the conference, which teams generally like to do. I'm sure offers will be made, and I'm sure the Jets will listen to them. In the end, they'll have to weigh those offers, consider how they feel about going into the draft with Leonhard and Smith as their starting safeties, and ask themselves whether they really want to sit through another season of Kerry Rhodes' chronic unhappiness with his role.
Rolle looks like he's deciding between two teams. He has his offer from the Giants but he is giving the Cardinals the chance to match the offer. Atogwe is still a possibility. He is a right of refusal tender only so the Jets would lose nothing to sign him but the Rams would have the chance to match the offer. Another possibility is Dawan Landry who could be available for a second round pick, or maybe less if the Jets can work out a sign-and-trade with the Ravens.
